Georgia may or may not get back Solomon Kindley for Saturday’s game at Tennessee, but the Bulldogs are likely to stick with Justin Shaffer even if they do.
Kindley, the regular starter at left guard, left the Notre Dame game in the first half with a significant sprain of his left ankle. Shaffer came on in relief and played exceptionally well.
The 6-foot-4, 335-pound Kindley, who got some preseason All-American mentions this year, practiced Tuesday for the first time since that 23-17 victory. But that doesn’t mean he’ll automatically be inserted back into the starting lineup.
“We feel good that Justin Shaffer's playing good football,” coach Kirby Smart said after practice Tuesday.
Shaffer (6-4, 330) has been solid if not a bit unsung among Georgia’s ballyhooed offensive linemen. A consensus 3-star prospect, he wasn’t even considered the best lineman out of Cedar Grove High his senior. That distinction went to teammate and close friend Netori Johnson, a prep All-American and 4-star prospect with dozens of college offers.
While Johnson redshirted, then was moved to defensive line last year, Shaffer has quietly played at every offensive-line position except for center and played regularly as a reserve. He played in eight games as a freshman and 12 of 14 last season, all in reserve roles.
If he gets the nod Saturday, it will be his first career start.
“You know, Shaffer got player of the week a couple of weeks ago,” Smart said after the Notre Dame game. “We wanted to play him more. We’re very fortunate that when Solly went down, there’s a guy who could step in there and go play. ... He plays very similar to Solly, with passion, energy, and toughness."
There had been speculation that Georgia might try to work in sophomore Cade Mays at left guard. Mays, a Knoxville native and Tennessee legacy, has been the Bulldogs’ most versatile lineman the past two seasons. The former 5-star prospect started five games last season and four this season at guard and tackle. Mays started Georgia’s past two games at right tackle instead of the injured Isaiah Wilson. But Wilson returned in the second half against Notre Dame and was able to finish with a dominant performance.
Smart said left guard is not in the plans for Mays this week.
“Not right now,” Smart said. “… Cade will alternate with some backup stuff because Cade kind of backs up a lot of positions, but we've got other guys who can play left guard."
Kindley remains an option there as well. He was able to practice “a good bit” Tuesday after being limited strictly to rehabilitation.
"We think he's going to be OK,” Smart said. “It's going to be a matter of whether he's mentally ready to play more than physically ready to play. He's in a similar situation that Isaiah Wilson was in the week of Notre Dame."
The report on sophomore cornerback Tyson Campbell was less optimistic. Campbell did not practice again Tuesday and has been out of action for three weeks because of a foot injury.
“He's running; he's running faster; he's picking up speed; but he's not able to go right now," Smart said.
That will mean a second consecutive start for junior college transfer D.J. Daniel.
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